Closing cap for collapsible tubes



Nov. 7, 1939. F. F. MARSCHALK CLOSING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1957 Nov. 7, W39. F, F. MARSCHALK CLOSING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1937 In venior f. E ar: cfia //r A iiornejus Patented Nov. 7, 1939 2,179,452 CLOSING GAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Frederick F. Marschalk, Augusta, Ga., assignor of one-half to Golden R. Battey, Augusta, Ga.

Application January 25, 1937, Serial No. 122,244

7 Claims.

This invention relates to closures and caps such as are adaptable for use in connection with collapsible tubes employed as holding and dispensing containers for shaving cream, tooth paste, medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations, and the primary purpose of the invention is to generally improve known patented and marketed closing caps by providing a structurally and otherwise distinct cap characterized by appreciable refinements and improvements.

As is evident from a glancing consideration of the accompanying illustrative drawings, the subject matter under consideration has to do with a cap which, although it may be bodily detached, is intended to remain constantly in place on the discharge neck of the tube, this being permitted through the instrumentality of an arrangement characterized chiefly by the relatively fixed and slidable complemental sections so constructed as to provide a variable discharge opening through which the contents of the tube may be ejected by squeezing in the conventional manner.

Indicated along specific structural lines, it will be observed that the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a unitary, but sectional construction having a screw-threaded collar or rim for threaded connection with the usual discharge neck, said collar carrying a disk-like head and said head being divided into sections, one of which is slidably mounted in relation to the remaining sections to aiford the variable discharge opening through which the contents of the tube are forcibly ejected.

In reducing the principles of the inventive conception to actual practice, I have perfected what is calculated to be an ingenious adaptation of features, whereby the slidable section of the so-called head may be manipulated satisfactorily with the fingers of a single hand, thus providing an unusually novel adaptation for a structure of this type.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a collapsible tube equipped with a closing cap constructed in accordance with my own ideas, the View depicting an edge construction seen from a predetermined point on the rim of the sectional disk-like head.

Figure 2 is a view at right angles to Figure 1, that is, a view observing it in a direction from right to left.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan View.

Figure 4 is a relatively smaller View based on Figure 1 and showing, diagrammatically, how the slidable section is manipulated by the thumb 'and index finger to openand/or close the discharge opening.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 2.

figure 6 is a central fragmentary vertical section on the line 6 fi of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is an elevational view similar to Figure 2, showing the slidable section of the cap completely removed to expose the channeled edge formation of the relatively fixed section and to disclose the keeper notch.

Figure 8 is a top plan View of the relatively slidable half-section of the head portion of the cap. V

Figure 9 is an edge View of Figure 8 observing the retention and guide ribs.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the cap.

Throughout the views, it will be observed that the numeral l8 designates what may be conveniently called a collapsible dispensing tube such as is employed in commercializing tooth paste, shaving cream, facial preparations, creams, and the like. This embodies the customary collapsible body portion 5 l and the usual screw-threaded discharge neck l2 and the improved cap i3 is threadedly connected with said neck l2.

As before indicated, the cap it is of a unitary type and includes an internally screw-threaded attaching rim or collar E l carrying a disk-like head provided with a suitably knurledmarginal edge to facilitate actuation. As shown to advantage in Figure 3, this head comprises a relatively fixed or stationary half-section I5 and a complemental slidable half-section 26. The latter part it is in effect a finger-actuated valve which when moved in relation to the section l5 defines the discharge opening l'l shown in Figure 4. The material forming the companion sections of the valving head is out along definite lines to provide slidable abutting surfaces, the surfaces on the stationary part It being denoted by the numerals l8, l9, and 20. The corresponding edge surfaces on the part [6 are indicated by the numerals 2|, 22, and 23. This is brought out more satisfactorily in Figure 4,. to which reference should be made.

Then, as shown to advantage in Figure 8, the

slidable section It has an outstanding guide flange 24 on the portion 2 i. This is slidable in a guideways formed by undercutting the adjacent portion l8 of the part I5. The numeral 25 also designates a retention flange which is primarily slidable in the undercut groove formed in the part 20 of said section [5. The flange is so fashioned in relation to the flange 24 as to define the discharge opening II. It will be further observed here that the numeral 26 designates a tang or tongue terminating in a resilient detent 21 which is in effect a miniature brake or friction shoe to maintain the slidable valve section I6 normally closed. This feature rides in the adjacent undercut groove and guards against accidental opening of the part 16.

In certain forms of the invention it is found advisable to provide the slidable section IS on its under side with a guide rib 28, this being of appropriate cross-sectional form and being slidable in a guideway formed in the collar M as visualized adequately from the drawings. Then too, the external rim portion of said section Hi may, if desired, be provided with a projection 29 constituting a stop element, this abutting the collar to limit the sliding movement of the section IS in an obvious manner.

In practice it is understood that the sections 'to allow the contents to be ejected. Under this arrangement the closure can be manipulated easily with the thumb and index finger of one hand without putting any pressure whatsoever on the tube during this operation. Then, too,

the construction is such as to permit the conventional configuration or form to be retained in making this particular cap, thus retaining the ings.

present existing advantages of compactness, symmetry in appearance, and avoiding the likelihood of loss of the cap, which so often happens when it is bodily removed.

The gist of the invention, therefore, resides in a so-called screw-cap having an attaching collar or rim and a sectional disk-like head, with ;one section fixed and the other section slidable,

and the adjacent edges of said sections so made as to define coacting offset features affording the variable discharge opening.

Reference is now had to Figure '7 of the draw- As before stated, this particular view shows the slidable or movable cap section l6 completely removed. This serves to expose the surfaces I8, 20, the right angularly disposed abutment surface I9, and an additional feature identified by the numeral 21a. This is in effect a notch formed in the under side of the slideway in which the guide flange 24 is removable. This notch is in effect a keeper seat and serves to receive the deflected terminal or keeper 2! ,hereinbefore referred to as the detent. In such arrangement as where the notch 21 is used, it is obvious that by positioning the notch at the proper point, when the detent 21 snaps into it, this limits the sliding movement of the slidable suction l6, that is, in a direction from left to right, in Figure 7.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. A closing cap for collapsibletubes comprising a unitary structure including an attaching member and a disk-like closing head member, said head member being centrally divided into complemental half-sections, one half-section being fixed and the other one slidable in relation thereto, the adjacent contacting surfaces of said sections being shaped to define a centrally disposed variable discharge opening.

2. A closing cap of the class described comprising an attaching body,-a relatively fixed head section formed integrally thereon, a relatively slidable head section cooperable with the firstnamed head section, the fixed head section being undercut to provide a guide groove, and the adjacent portion of the slidable section being provided with flange means slidable in said groove.

3. A closing cap of the class described comprising a disk-like head intermediately divided into similar sections, one section being fixed and the other being slidable, the adjacent portions of said sections being fashioned to define an opening.

4. In a closing cap for"collapsible tubes, an internally screw-threaded annulus constituting an attaching collar, said collar being provided with a segmental fixed headsection, said collar being further provided with a guide groove, a' slidable head section cooperable with thefirstnamed head section and provided with a rib slidable in said groove.

5. In a closing cap for collapsible tubes, an"

internally screw-threaded annulus constituting an attaching collar, said collar being provided with a segmental fixed head section, said collar being further provided with a guide groove,a

slidable head section cooperable with the firstnamed head section and provided with a rib" slidable in said groove, and further provided with a stop element engageable with the collar in the manner and for the purposes described.

6. A dispensing container having an outlet, a closure mounted over the outlet and comprised of relatively movable parts having parallel adjacent and registering edge portions with coop-' erative offsets which when relatively displaced provide an opening.

'7. A dispensing container having an outlet,"

a closure mounted over the outlet and comprised of relatively slidable parts in the same plane and engaging in edge to edge relation, the edges of said parts having offsets whereby the parts provide an opening over the outlet when relatively displaced.

FREDERICK F. 'MARSCI-IALK. 

